The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-01-20

stlilce uS leu III HlesuIuDeuU upon MIN nOG
only to assert his principles, but to act upon
them with his usual energy How far he
was impelled by the half contemptuous
passiveness of his companions it would be
difficult to say.
"What is to prevent the pursuit of them at
once?" he asked suddenly. "We are a few
miles from the station, where horses can be
procured
"Who's to do its" replied the other lazily.
''The stage company will lodge the complaint
with the authorities, but it will take two days
to get the county officers out, and its nobody
else's funeral"
81 will go for one,n said Hale quietly. 81
have horse waiting for me at the station,
and can start at once.n
There was an instant of silence. The stage
coach had left the obscurity of the forest, and
by the stronger light Hale could perceive that
his companion was examining him with two
colorless, lazy eyes. Presently he said, meet
ing Hale's clear glance, but rather as il yield
ing to a careless reflection:
sIt might be done with four men. We
oughter raise one man at the station" He
paused. II don't know ez I'd mind taking
hand myself he added, stretching out his
legs with slight yawn.
'sYe can count me in, if you're goin', kernel
reckon I'm tallzin' to Kernel Clinch,n said
the passenger beside Hale with sudden alac-
rity ''Im Rawlins, of Frisco. Herd of We
afore, kernel, and kinder spotted you jst
now from your TALK
To Hales surprise the two men, after awk-
wardly and perfunctorily grasping each
others hand, entered at once into languid
conversation on the recent election at Fresno,
without the slightest further reference to the
pursuit of the robbers. It was not until the
remaining and undenominated passenger
turned to Hale, and, regretting that he had
immediate business at the Summit, offered to
accompany the party if they would wait a
couple of hours, that Col Clinch briefly re-
turned to the subject.
"Four men will do, and ez we'll hev to take
horses from the station wen hev to take the
fourth man from there"
With these words he resumed his uninter-
esting conversation with the equally uninter-
ested Rawlins, and the undenominated pas
senger subsided into an admiring and dreamy
contemplation of them both. With all his
principle and really high minded purpose,
Hale could not help feeling constrained and
annoyed at the sudden, subordinate and aux
ihary position to which he, the protector of
the enterprise, had been reduced. 1t was true
that he had never offered himself as their
leader; it was true that the principle he
wished to uphold and the effect he sought to
obtain would be equally demonstrated under
another; it was true that the execution of his
own conception gravitated by some occult
impulse to the man who had not sought it,
and whom he had always regarded as an in
capable. But all this was so unlike precedent
or tradition that, after the fashion of con-
servative men, he was suspicious of it, and
only that his honor was now involved he
would have withdrawn from the enterprise.
There was still a chance Of reasserting him
self at the station, where he was known,
and where some authority might be deputed
to him.
But even this prospect failed. The station,
half hotel and half stable, contained only the
landlord, who was also express agent, and the
new volunteer whom Clnch had suggested
would be found among the stable men The
nearest justice Of the peace was ten miles
away, and Hale had to abandon even his
hope of being sworn in as deputy constable.
This introduction of a common and illiterate
ostler into the party on equal terms with
himself did not add to his satisfaction, and q
remark from Rawlirss seemed to complete
his embarrassment.
aye had a mighty narrer escape down
there just now," said that gentleman conf
dentially, as Hale buckled his saddle girths.
II thought, as we were not supposed to
defend ourselves, there was no danger" said
Hale scornfully.
"Oh, don't mean them road agents. But
him."
"Whos'
@Kernel Clinch. You jist ez good as al
lowed he hadn't any grit"
aWhatever said, 1 suppose am respon
sible for it," answered Hale haughtily.
"That's what gifts me-" was the imperturb
able reply. AHes the best shot in.southerr
California, and hez let daylight through q
dozen chaps afore now for half what you
saidn
"Indeedln
"Howsummever, continued Rawlins, phil
osophically, "ez he's concluded to go with W
instead Of for ye, you're likely to hev YOU
ideas on this matter carried out up to the
handle He'll make short work of it, yoI
bet. Eff. ez 1 suspect, the leader is an airy
young feller from Frisco, who hez took to th,
road lately, Clinch hez got personal grudg'
agin him from quarrel over draw poker"
This was the last blow to Hale's ideal cru
sade Here he was-an honest, respectabl
citizen-engaged as simple accessory to
lawless vendetta originating at gambling
table! When the fist shock was over tha
grim philosophy which is the reaction Of al
imaginative and sensitive natures came to hi
aid He felt better; oddly enough he began
to be conscious that he was thinking and act
ing like lbs companions. With this feeling
vague sympathy, before absent, faintl,
showed itself in their actions. The Sharpe
rifle put into his hands by the stableman wa
accompanied by familiar word of sugges
ton as to an equal, which he was ashamed t.
find flattered him. He was able to continu
the conversation with Rawlins more coolly.
''Then you suspect who is the leaderW
'Only ON giniral principles There was
finer touch, so to speak, in this yer robber.
that wasn't in the old fashioned style. Dow
in my country they he'd crude ideas abou
them things-used to strip the passengers o
everything, includin' their clothes. They sa
that at the station hotels, when the coache
came in, the folks used to stand round wit
blankets to wrap up the passengers SO eznot t
skeer the wimen. Thar's story that tn
driver and express manager drove up one da
with only copy of TIE Atty Californ
wrapped around 'em; but thin,n added Raw
Inns grimly, "there was folks ez said the hui
story was only an advertisement got up fo
The Alty.n
''Time's up"
"Are ycu ready, gentlemeni" said Co
Clinch.
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